System and method for recording digital data on glass master recording disks

Abstract

A system concept and the components integrated therein for storing useful and control information as well as feature items, general components for data flow control of all components integrated in the system concept as well as special components for data flow and process control of interface systems for laser-beam recorders permit handling of useful and control information as well as feature items independently of physical music / data carriers within premastering and the production of glass masters (mastering) in CD plants. All the various types of information are stored in on-line compatible mass storages and automatically transferred into the sectors calling for the information concerned by general data flow control components. Requests for information can be generated manually or automatically. The time needed to transfer to the requesting sectors or machines is shortened, the premastering expense reduced, the mastering actions automated with the aid of special control components and considerably speeded up as compared to conventional methods by using a network as the carrier medium.

Description

1. Field of the InventionThe invention relates to prestage processes necessary in state of the art production of glass masters for compact disk replication.2. Description of the Prior ArtCurrently, the useful information made available to CD manufacturers for the purpose of replication is furnished on a plurality of greatly differing music / data carriers, each having highly specific features, depending on the existing infrastructure of the client placing the order and the nature of the information concerned. In this respect the type of music / data carrier selected decisively influences both the time and depth needed for processing in the CD plant. At this time the following music / data carriers are of significance throughout the branch:PremasteringDepending on the nature on the music / data carrier furnished, its mechanical / physical quality as well as the structure of the useful information, various steps in processing prior to mastering, i.e. premastering are required of the CD manufact...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

It is thus the object of the invention to enhance the rapidity of the cited process sequences, this relating, on the one hand, to adapting the transfer rates of transfer media to the technical / physical possibilities of existing laser-beam recorders and, on the other, to shortening or eliminating the need for reformating in premastering. It is intended to define the invention extensible to such an extent that both conventional and new work sequences can be accommodated in a transitional phase. In addition the invention is intended to enhance the overall stability and error detection reliability of the work sequences involved.

Problems solved by technology

Due to the high demands on the cleanliness of the materials used, the tight tolerances on thickness of the light-sensitive coating and the necessary stability in processing, this procedure is highly time and hardware intensive.

Due to the non-reversibility of this transfer action uncorrected reader errors, interruptions in the data stream to the laser-beam recorder or errors in transfer in the laser-beam recorder result in a glass master which is useless for further steps in processing.

Once an error has been written onto the glass master, caused by non-correctable bit errors or by an interruption in the data stream, no correction is possible in the same working procedure.

II) Disadvantages of Prior Art

Since every non-correctable error inevitably results in having to repeat the complete procedure (a factor taking up a lot of time and money due to the steps involved as described) non-correctable errors in readers and transfer media, operating errors by personnel as well as non-correctable bit errors in transmission need to be avoided.

Since, however, the probability of a reading error occurring increases with the speed of the reading procedure out of all proportion, a compromise is made between process stability and speed in the case of systems usually employed for readers nowdays in mastering.

Accordingly, there is always the risk of jobs being confused, operator errors or late starting in mastering.

In addition, due to the risks involved in interrupting the process there is a need for trained personnel also throughout the complete transfer procedure.

Due to the low performance as regards data transfer rate or data security and the required bit-accuracy and zero-error in transfer the read / write process is done at a relatively low speed as compared to that of later mastering.

Each and every additional step in processing or in the copying process increases the probability of non-correctable errors occuring.

This necessitates both investment costs in additional hard / software and higher overheads in hard / software maintenance, release updating and further training of personnel.

Current music / data carriers are unable to satisfy these performance requirements, thus necessitating a total new investment in CD plants in both the premastering and mastering sectors.

Common to all input systems as usually employed nowadays in mastering is the lack of any automated diagnosis and remote maintenance, or these facilities being provided only to a limited extent.

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